On Monday, February 24, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron visited the White House. His visit has the special purpose of discussing peace regarding the Russia-Ukraine war that has continued for the last 3 years. Regarding this war, Europe has a different stance as compared to what US President Donald Trump wants.
According to Macron, any finalized peace deal must take the assurance of bringing long-lasting peace to Ukraine. He also said that Europe is ready to spend more on trade, defense, and investments. As Trump has often condemned NATO allies for not spending enough money, so Macron’s words seem like, he is trying to address these concerns. He also highlighted Trump’s achievement which experts said was Macron’s way of winning Donald Trump’s support.
The visit of the French President highlights that Europe is preparing for the future to play a crucial role in maintaining global security. However, both Europe and Trump have different views about the Russia-Ukraine war. Macron wants Europe to be a stronger defense partner, but Trump’s views could change US policies. Trump’s current policies and views may not benefit Ukraine’s future. The meeting shows the uncertainty in how the US and Europe will collaborate to end the war.
According to Macron, Europe and Ukraine must be included in all types of peace talks. The statement by French President Emmanuel Macron comes after Saudi Arabia hosted a high-level of Russia and the United States’s discussion without Ukraine. Macron warned that Ukraine needs the security guarantee because without it Russian President Vladimir Putin might attack again.
Meanwhile, the United States is not completely in line with the majority of NATO members. On Monday, the US cast a vote against a United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. The resolution also called for Russia to give back occupied territory to Ukraine. The resolution passed despite Russian, North Korean, and Belarusian opposition with broad support.
Macron’s remarks highlight concerns that both of these nations, Russia and the US may exclude Ukraine from diplomatic efforts. This sidelining may ignore Ukraine’s security needs. His warning about another Russian attack on Ukraine emphasizes the urgent need for long-term defense plans for Ukraine.
The US commitment to NATO’s unified stance is also under scrutiny after the US vote at the United Nations. Most of the NATO members have strongly criticized Russia and its actions against Ukraine. But the US took a different approach. This could weaken Western efforts to counter Russia’s actions. The growing divide within NATO and global diplomacy suggests challenges ahead in handling the Ukraine crisis.
Recently US President Donald Trump strongly criticized Unkarine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump labeled him a “dictator” and said that Ukraine was the root cause of the war and took aggressive actions against Russia at first.
These claims are the same as what Russia has said, blaming Ukraine for the war. Trump’s comments highlight that he wants Ukraine to give up NATO membership and also compromise on some of its land to end the conflict.
This position has been criticized worldwide, with the argument from European leaders that Zelensky is an elected leader and that Trump’s comments negate peace efforts. The conflict started in 2014 when Russia occupied Crimea. After this control, the conflict became a full war in February 2022. According to experts, Ukraine is not the reason for this war it is because Putin wants to take more land.
